Clear-signal mechanism for writing-adding machines



Aug. 19, 1924.

- H. A. FOOTHORAP CLEAR SIGNAL MECHANISM FOR WRITING ADDING MACHINES Filed Dec. 3l. 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet l uummw 4 Sheets-Shee'r, 2

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CLEAR SIGNAL MECHANISM FOR WRITING ADDING MACHINES Aug. 19, 1924;' '15055384 H. A. FOOTHORAP CLEAR SIGNAL MECHANISM FOR WRITING ADDING MACHINES Filed Dec. 3l 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 MMM 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 AxA-Jg. 19 1924.

H. A. FOOTHO'RAP CLEAR SIGNAL MECHANISM FOR WRITING ADDING MACHINES Filed Dec. 3l,

I l l I l llfllllllllll llllllllllllllllll Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY ARTHUR FOOTHORAP, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ELLIOTT-FISHER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CLEAR-SIGNAL MECHANISM FO'R WRITING-ADDING MACHINES.

Application led December 31, 1920. SerialvNo. 434,253.

To all whom it may concern.'

' Be it known that HARRY A. FoorHoRAP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clear- Signal Mechanism for Writing-Adding Machines, of which the following is a speciication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

`This invention relates to a clear signal mechanism for typewriting adding machines.

One object of the invention is to provide a lsimple and efficient mechanism whereby a star or other character may be printed at any appropriate place, as for instance before or after a posting to indicate that at such time the adding mechanism was clear.

A further object of the invention is to so organize the clear signal device that the strain of an attempted misoperation will not be borne by the adding mechanism with which the clear signal mechanism co-acts, but will be sustained by parts specially designed to resist niisoperation without liability of disarrangement.

To the accomplishment of the recited objects and others subordinate thereto,'as will hereinafter appear, the present embodiment of the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of one end of an Elliott-Fisher bookkeeping machine with the'crossfooter casing in vertical section to disclose that portion of the adding mechanism with which the clear signal device co-acts.

Figure 2 is a front elevation partly in section, of a portion of the same machine equipped with the clear signal device.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the subject-matter shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the clear signal mechanism, exclusive of the printing device, vwith the parts shown in normal position.

Figure 5 is a similar view with the parts in operated position.

Figure 6 is still another view of the same character with the parts shown in the positions they assume upon a misoperation of the 56 clear signal device, or an attempt to print the clear signal when the adding mechanism is not clear.

Figure 7 is a perspective detailed view.

Figure 8 is a detailed section on the line 8--8 of Figure 4.

In the accompanying drawings:

1 indicates the carriage, 2'the flat platen, and 3 one of the type arms of the Elliott- Fisher billing and bookkeeping machine of commerce. In this machine which is of well known type, the paper is supported by the platen 2, and is printed upon by downwardly acting printing mechanism including key operated type bars mounted on the carriage which travels transversely of the platen for letter spacing, and longitudinally thereof for line spacing. The keys 4' upon the depression of which the type arms 3 move downward to print, are mounted at the front ends of key levers 5 mounted on a horizontal fulcrum bar 6 at the rear side of the carriage, and having suitable connection through connecting links 7, 8 and 9 and sub-levers 10 and 11, with thel type bars 3.

As is well understood inthe art, an adding mechanism is mounted at one end of the carriage and is operated upon the depression of the numeral keys, to accumulate the value of numbers printed on the work sheet, and to register the total of such values for the information of the operator. Since the specific character of the mechanism intermediate of the keys and the adding mechanism operated thereby, is well known and is notl material to the present invention, the illustration has been limited to a more or less conventional showing of the adding mechanism and its related parts. Sulice it to say that Within what is known as a crossfooter casing A, is mounted a series of denominational members or number wheels 12, each having exhibited upon the ends of ten teeth formed therein, digits 0 to 9 inclusive, arranged to be successively exhibited before a sight opening 13 in the wall of the casing 11. The number wheels 12 are mounted coaxially on a shaft 14`and, in addition to the mechanism for rotating the wheels individually in accordance with the numerical and denominational values of the digits printed, are associated with what is known in the art as carrying mechanism which automatically transfers the value accumulated upon each wheel to the wheel of next higher order when the limit of value is reached.

My present invention, however, is den signed merely to co-operate with the number wheels, regardless of how they are operated or carried, in. such a way that the positions of the wheels will determine whether or not the clear signal may beprinted on the work sheet. The printing of the clear signal at the beginning or ending of al osting is intended to show conclusively t at at such time the adding mechanism was clear, by which is meant, the registi-ation of a row of ciphers at the opening 13.

On the side of each of the wheels 12 is mounted a disk 15 of slightly greater diameter than that of the wheels, and intended to prevent the alined interdental spaces of the wheels from forming unobstructed channels except between the teeth numbered 7 and 8. At this particular inter,- dental space of each wheel the associated disk is cut out. Thus if all of the number wheels occupy the same positions, that is to say if all of the naughts are opposite the sight opening, indicating that the register is clear, the unobstructed interdental spaces between the 7 and 8 teeth of the respective wheels will form an unobstructed channel across the series of wheels. This channel is indicated in Figure 4 by the numeral 16. It is designed to be entered by a rocking leaf 17 journaled in any suitable manner in the frame of the machine, as for instance as shown in Figure 3 and eX- tended across the series of wheels. Thus if any wheel of the series is not in the zero position or if, in other words the register is not clear, the disk 15 of the wheel or wheels which are not in zero position will obstruct the movement of the leaf 17 inwardly toward the axis of the wheels from the periphery. This will be understood by reference to Figure 6 of the drawings. Associated with the leaf 17 is a sha-ft 18 from which extends an arm 19 having a bifurcated end and located within the casing of the carriage 1. The arm 19 is urged in one direction by a spring 2O which serves to hold the leaf 17 at one limit of its movement where it is arrested by a stop 21. The bifurcated end of the arm 19 engages a pin 22 projecting laterally from the upper end of a link 23 pivotally mounted at its lower end as indicated by 24 upon the upper end'of a standard 25 secured rigidly to the deck or other part 26 of the carriage. A somewhat longer link 27 has its front end pivotally connected to thelink 23 at an intermediate point thereof and has an upward and rearward inclination to ermit the pivotal connection of its rear end) with the bracket 28 pivoted at 29 upon the lever 5 of the clear signal ke at a point ad'acent to but in advance o the fulcrum o said key lever. The bracket 28 is normally disposed substantially at right angles to the lever 5, movement thereof in one direction relative to the lever, being prevented by a stop screw 30 carried by the bracket and engaging the lower edge of the lever. Movement of the bracket 28 relative to the lever 5 in the other direc-- tion is yieldingly resisted, but normally prevented by a spring 31 carried by the lever 5 and bearing upon the bracket as shown. The purpose of the stop screw 30 is to effect adjustment of the normal position of the bracket and to thereafter arrest the bracket in such position whenever it has been moved out of normal position in the manner to be described, and is then restored to normal position by the spring 31. Another feature of adjustment resides in the eccentric mounting of the pivotal connection between the link 27 and the bracket 28 as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4 and in detailed section in Figure 8.

The parts are so proportioned and connected that a full stroke of the lever 5 to effect the printing of the star or other clear signal character is accompanied by movement of the leaf 17 into the interdental spaces of the number wheels as shown in Figure 5. Conversely, if such movement of the leaf 17 is blocked by one or more of the disks 15 in case the register is not clear` the depression of the clear key to print will be prevented. Thus the operator will be appraised by the locking of the clear signal key that the register is not at clear, or zero. The operation of the parts incidental to a depression of the clear signal key with the register at. zero will be clearly understood by reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings. In Figure 4 the parts are shown in normal osition. In Figure 5 the clear signal key as been depressed to print the star or other clear signal. Incidental to thc depression of the key, the lever 5 has been swung downward, the bracket 28 moving in an arc with the lever 5 has shifted to the link 23 laterally thus causing thc pin 22 to swing the arm 19 to rock the shaft 18 and thus rock the leaf 17 into the interdental spaces between those teeth of the number wheels which bear the numerals 7 and 8. If now we consider that the same operation is attempted, but with the movement of the leaf 17 blocked by the disks 15, it will be apparent that unless provision is made to the contrary, the force applied to the kcy multiplied by the leverage incident to the relative locations of the various connections, will be sustained by the leaf 17 and the adding mechanism with which it co-operates.

Vhile the primary object of my invention is to provide a machine of this character with a simple and effective mechanism for printing the clear signal, a further object is to so organize the parte that the force applied to the key, in an attempt to print a clear signal when the register is not clear, will not be sustained either by the adding mechanism or any other part likely to bederanged by a misoperation or repeated misoperations of the clear signal key. To this latter end the bracket 28 has been mounted for limited movement relative to the lever 5 against the resistance of the spring 31, as heretofore described, and the lever 5 is provided with a depending lug 32 adapted to be received within a guide 33 at the upper end of the link 23 and to engage the pin 22 under certain conditions. Normally (see Figure 4) the lug 32 is disposed somewhat above and entirely out of contact with the pin 22. In the normal operation of the mechanism (see Figure 5) the downward movement of the lug with the lever 5 and the forward movement of the pin 22 carries these parts out of coincidence so that the lug 32 performs no function whatever, If, however, an attempt is made to depress the clear signal key when the register is not clear, slight downward movement of the key lever will advance the leaf 17 slightly until arrested by the disk or disks 15. Further depression of the key will now be prevented unless suiiicient force is applied to overcome the resistance of the spring 31, and thus permit the further downward movement of the lever 5 to be accommodated by the swinging of the bracket 28 upon the lever. This further movement of the lever however, is limited to such as will carry the lug 32 against the pin 22 which in this misoperation has failed to move out of interfering relation with the lug by reason ofthe blocking of the leaf 17 and the consequent limited movement of the arm 19 and link 23.

The positions assumed by the parts upon the misoperation of the key are clearly shown in Figure 6, and it will be noted at any excess force exerted upon the key in an attempt to print a clear signal when such signal should not be printed, will not be resisted by the adding mechanism or by a train of pivotally connected elements, but will be sustained by a direct longitudinal thrust on the link 23 which is directly mounted on a rigid part.

What I claim is:

1. In a. machine of the character described, the combination with an adding mechanism, of a clear signal printing mechanism, a device co-acting with the adding mechanism and controlled thereby, a member movable into and out of position to arrest the movement of the printing mechanism and controlled by' said device, and a yielding connection between an element of the printing mechanism and said arresting member.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with an adding mechanism, of clear signal printing mechanism. a device the movement of which is prevented or permitted by the adding mechanism, a connection between said device and the printing mechanism, said connection being arranged to yield to permit slight additional movement of the printing mechanism after said device has been arrested by the adding mechanism when not clear. and means including an element of the connection between said device and the printing mechanism for arresting the movement of the printing mechanism.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with an adding mechanism. of a controlling device movable into an interdental space of the adding mechanism when the latter is clear, a clear signal printing mechanism including a key lever, a bracket movably mounted on said lever and yieldable in one direction, a fixed support, a swinging link mounted thereon and connected with the controlling device and bracket respectively, said link being movable by the key lever to operate the controlling device when the clear signal mechanism is operated to print the clear signal with the adding mechanism clear, and said link serving to arrest the clear signal printing mechanism and to prevent the effective operation thereof when an operation is attempted at a time when the adding mechanism is not clear.

Il. In a machine of the Character described` the combination with an adding mechanism including a series of toothed wheels, notched disks associated with said wheels to provide a single interdental channel across the series of wheels when the adding mechanism is in clear position and not otherwise; a controlling device including a leaf movable into said channel; a swinging arm associated with said device, a fixed support, a link mounted to swing from said support and connected to said arm to swing the same, clear signal printing mechanism including a key lever, a bracket pivoted on said lever and yieldable relative thereto in one direction only, a spring opposing the yielding of said bracket, a connection between the bracket and the link and a projection extended toward the link from the key lever, whereby when the key lever is operated with the adding mechanism clear, the link will be swung laterally to swing the arm and present the leaf of the controlling device within the interdental channel of the adding mechanism as the clear signal is printed, and whereby when the operation of the clear signal printing mechanism is attempted when the adding mechanism is not clear, material movement of the controlling device will be prevented by one or more of the disks of the adding mechanism and the link will be retained in position to be engaged by the projection on the key lever upon continued movement of said lever permitted by the yielding of the bracket.

5. In a machine of the character described. the combination with an adding mechanism, of clear signal printing mechanism. a device the movement of which is prevented or permitted by the adding mechanism. a connection between said device and the printing mechanism, said connection being arranged to yield to permit slight additional `movement of the rinting mechanism after said device has een arrested by the adding mechanism when not clear.

6. In a, machine of the character described, the combination with an adding 

